The K-12 education levy bills advanced in the legislature.

 

Senators passed Senate Bill 179, which revises the property tax levies for the general fund of school districts and for state aid, on a 33-1 vote, and Senate Bill 182, which revises the special education property tax levy for school districts and the special education formula, on a 31-4 vote.

 

SB 179 will set the target teacher salary at $50, 360 and the school district general fund levies for commercial property at $7.821 per $1,000 of valuation, ag. land at $1.473 and owner-occupied at $3.296.

 

“This is a continuing discussion,” Sen. John Wiik said, adding that the bill will assist in providing “the increases in education” proposed by Gov. Kristi Noem in the form of the 2.5 percent increase in state aid.

 

SB 182 increases the levy on special education to $1.616 per $1,000 of valuation and adjusts the disability level allocations accordingly.

 

ASBSD supports each bill, which now head to the House for review.

 

For updates on these bills and others, check the ASBSD Blog, Twitter feed, Facebook page and Bill Tracker.